Saint-Louis Festival in Sète: a few helpful lines to better understand the jousts

Jousting, a free show for all, that newbies will appreciate more with a few keys. MIDI LIBRE – Jérôme Belluire

A codified show, a jousting tournament is not just a game where two guys push each other into the water.

If you think that, during jousting tournaments, the lifeguard who walks on the canal aboard his small boat lacks professionalism by choosing to take the shield and the pole out of the water, rather than the poor guy who took his forced bath, we strongly advise you to read the following lines. Because you are way off the mark.

A centuries-old tradition

Jousts are a perfectly codified spectacle, part of a centuries-old tradition. From Valras to Grau-du-Roi, seventeen societies make up the championship, to which are added the Coupe de France and the French championship. The Saint-Louis is independently organized by the city of Sète.

On the water, the jousters are randomly distributed on two boats, the red and the blue. They compete individually, their only distinguishing mark being the coat of arms of their society.

They will first compete in an elimination phase, where you have to beat three opponents in a row in order to qualify for the rematches. During these “final phases”, the jouster will have to beat an opponent to advance a round, until the final, where the winner only wins a cup and a bouquet of flowers.

People on board

If two jousters fall into the water at the same time, they stay there and we then speak of a bouquet (another one, but with a lesser flavor). If this happens in the final, the last one to touch the water is declared the winner.

Each boat is made up of eight to ten rowers, a coxswain whose mission is to bring the jouster into the best conditions for his fight, and two musicians (oboe and drum) tirelessly playing La Charge, this catchy tune that many tourists will inevitably have taken home with them, sometimes against their will.

At the back is the bigue, a sort of staircase leading to the floor, where the jousters are waiting their turn and “do the weight” so that the two floors are at the same height when crossing.

Lance and shield

The jouster is armed with a lance and a shield. Tourist friends, remember, we decline all responsibility in the event of the use of any other term. The shield measures 70 cm high and 40 cm wide, for a weight of 8 kg. 5 cm thick retainers delimit the different impact zones and the jouster must strike the central left part (both parts of the shield are authorized if he is left-handed). The lance is 2.80 m long and ends with three sharp metal points (the outline) which will be stuck in the shield. At the start, the jouster has his hand in the first colored part. He will receive an observation if he puts his hand in the white part (three times = elimination) and will be immediately eliminated if he puts his hand in the second colored part.

Around the boats

On the edge of the quay, a jury of three people officiates. Video refereeing has not been introduced in the jousts, so it is sometimes very complicated to see everything. Certainly the most difficult role, even if the rowers can claim the title when the sun beats down for hours.

On the water, two “sapinous” sail. One is in charge of boarding the jousters, the other is in charge of collecting the weapons (the jouster, himself, knows how to swim and can therefore find the quay by his own means).

There would still be a multitude of components to define, but this is a newspaper and not a book. And if the faithful readers of Midi Libre have learned nothing through these lines, it is because this introduction to jousting was not really addressed to them. Rather to those who disembark in Sète, for a week or two, have not subscribed (one can understand it but be careful all the same) and want to enjoy this unique spectacle in the world without being seen as seafarers.